News
Abonnema Chieftaincy Tussle: RSG Endorses Bob-Manuel’s Kingship
Rivers State Government has endorsed the recognition of King Disreal Bob-Manuel as First Class traditional ruler and the Amanyanabo of Abonnema. Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike who made the declaration last Wednesday following insinuations that King Bob-Manuel was suspended or deposed, said nobody has the authority to depose a First Class Traditional ruler that enjoys full recognition of the government without the approval of the State Chief Executive.
Wike who was responding to submissions of Abonnema Council of Chiefs that paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt, said that nobody has deposed the King, adding that, “it is only the state government that has the power to depose a First Class traditional ruler and we have no intention to depose the Amanyanabo of Abonnema”.
Reacting to the role allegedly being played by security agencies in the chieftaincy squabble brewing in the area, Wike expressed regrets that the security agencies’ involvement in chieftaincy affairs was rather unfortunate.
“Our security agencies have gone so low that they are now involved in everything, including chieftaincy affairs. Soon, they will involve themselves in husband and wife issues. Can they carry an Emir like that? Can they carry an Oba like that? We pray they withdraw from such illegal activity”, Wike said.
Wike who decried the role being played by some prominent elderly persons from the area, noted that they have refused to understand the meaning and importance of peace such that they had resorted to instigating crisis.
He also wondered why the feuding Abonnema United founding fathers would spread the false report that some persons were planning to kill High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs.
“I don’t know whether they know the implication of the crisis they are generating. There is no need for anyone to create crisis in a very peaceful community,” he said, adding that the conflict was politically motivated and aimed at achieving pre-meditated political goals.
Wike charged youths of Abonnema to be at alert in the defence of their traditional heritage and urged them not to allow persons or groups to distort their traditional order.
The governor assured the Abonnema Council of Chiefs that the state government will take up the matter with the state Commissioner of Police even as he pledged a formal report to be made to the Nigerian Army headquarters on the illegal deployment of soldiers to arrest the Amanyanabo of Abonnema.
Reiterating the strong support of Abonnema people to the emergence of the present administration, Wike said he will continue to execute meaningful projects in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area.
The Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disreal Bob-Manuel, while speaking earlier had said he had come with his Council of Chiefs to seek state government’s protection from some persons using security agencies to disrupt peace and the traditional order in the area.
News
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
-
Business4 days ago
Replace Nipa Palms With Mangroove In Ogoni, Group Urges FG, HYPREP
-
News4 days ago
Demonstrate Commitment In Improving Host Communities, Ibas Tells Corps Members
-
Politics4 days ago
Your Lies Chasing Investors From Nigeria, Omokri Slams Obi
-
Opinion4 days ago
How Reliable Is AI
-
Business4 days ago
NCDMB, Dangote Refinery Unveil JTC On Deepening Local Content
-
Politics4 days ago
Keyamo Inaugurates Ganduje As FAAN Board Chair
-
Rivers4 days ago
HOS Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP … As Project Sensitization Team Visit Degema, AKULGA
-
Politics4 days ago
Tinubu’s Contribution To Buhari’s Presidency Marginal – Ex-SGF